I'm glad everyone is enthusaistic about the latest Michael Bay film. As you know, Michael Bay is Alexis's favourite director. Unforutnately, the producer of this film is the most loathed Steven Spielberg, whose relationships with the composer John William is well known. I worry for Michael, for he's a fine looking man. Hopefully he won't be exploited by Speilberg.

Posted by Giacomo @ 8:01 AM

Wait, I'm confused, so we should get there at 1pm nevertheless?

Posted by butters @ 1:11 AM

Soz Jono - all these damn communists always confusing the issue! First it was the date and now its the time =P

On a brighter note - a Sliver deck made it into the top 8 (spot no.3) at a recent Magic Grand Prix in Montreal. Happiness abounds >.<

Posted by Hash @ 12:58 AM

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Why am I always the one example used for punctuality? Benny can also be used as an example!

Darren, what I meant is having one of the 3 pointed tips pointed down. It's where all the anime and comics conventions are held...

What is the time for soccer in AEST? The REAL AEST. What are the wet weather plans?

EDIT: I prefer Eastgardens. Cheaper..and closer to Maroubra :)

Posted by Hoey the Fish @ 11:35 PM

Haha Jono

By me posting it's 10:30am, I'm actually assuming we'll all be there by 12pm since nobody is ever punctual these days, so rather than say "lets meet up at 2pm and we all get there at 4" I shifted the time earlier such that 10:30 will equate to 12ish.

So please, feel free to rock up at 10:30am. I know the bulk of u will be at least an hour late so.

Posted by KJ @ 9:00 PM

Uh, how come? I had plans for the morning (might be able to shuffle a bit), but I thought the main problem was that people wouldn't be able to get up that early.

So what are you thinking of doing between like 2pm, after soccer and lunch, and 6pm, for the movie?

Posted by IONize @ 8:44 PM

Amendment to meeting time for Saturday:

It is no longer 12/1pm, but 10:30am.

Hope to see you all there.

(I'm assuming ur all like Eric with promptness)

Posted by KJ @ 3:17 PM

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Due to unforseen sabotages by persons unkwown (tho possible suspects' names may start with a 'b' and end with 'enny') Saturday has somehow become the day of choice.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Jono: Sorry, I can't go, due to an exam on I have next Monday and a lack of leave due to the week off I took to go to Hawaii. Have fun in the Whitsundays.. despite its lack of snow.

Eric: How does one invert a triangle?

Regarding soccer and transformers, I suggest the events be executed in that order, with the movie viewing commencing around 5-6pm. Is soccer going to be at centennial park? Also, if weather is bad, what is the contingency? PC? PC sounds good..

Posted by Ice Kachang @ 7:59 PM

I'd rather the snow.

Posted by butters @ 7:53 PM

What a romantic suggestion. Unfortunately you're not my type jono =)

Posted by Bonobo @ 5:57 PM

Anyone wanna come to the Whitsundays with me for like 5 days next week?

Round trip flights are like $370, which I think is pretty cheap.

Any expressions of interest? C'mon, I'm serious...I'm starting work forever on Monday July 9 (two Mondays from now, coincidentally my birthday too w00t) and I have a week off before hand

Posted by IONize @ 5:07 PM

I am down for the Sat/Sun option. Preferably Sunday.

Anyway, anyone know what that structure is called in Japan where it has two inverted triangles at the top..usually used for anime conventions?

Posted by Hoey the Fish @ 2:20 PM

Monday, June 25, 2007

Does ne1 have an interest in combining Soccer + Transformers on Sat/Sun?

Spain is out for Friday, Alexis, Benny and myself are willing to see it twice (both Thu/Fri and Sat/Sun)

Currently we have Paul, Sid, Anth, Benny and teh Otaku Konnection watching it on Sunday @ Parra

Posted by Hash @ 8:14 PM

Sunday, June 24, 2007

When Jono is using the word "olio" in this sentences, I the world is a wonderful place.

Posted by Giacomo @ 4:05 AM

details details

Posted by IONize @ 1:36 AM

Saturday, June 23, 2007

No offense Jono, but she would only be a female Yoda if she had a lightsaber ... and hands ... and the force ... and was GREEN!

Monday, June 18, 2007

What would you do,If someone told you to fight for freedom?Would you answer the call,Or run away like a lil pussy?

Posted by butters @ 12:06 AM

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Propaganda ftw!

I still love the RA2 soviet mission ..."General, we have located some dissidents spreading capitalist propaganda ..."

I remember my mum seeing me watching the opening for RA2 with President Romanov in his full military attire - she thought I was watching a socialist recruitment video XD

Posted by Hash @ 2:44 PM

I just realized something: if Australia was ever invaded, I would go back and fight for its freedom (though probably in the Propaganda department).

In Gladiator, there is a scene where Macus Aurelius said: "Tis a good home Maximus, worth fighting for." I feel exactly the same way.

Posted by Giacomo @ 12:35 PM

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Sweet article Yi

Posted by IONize @ 10:29 PM

People went 12 times to see 'detailed set pieces' and 'history'?

Face it Alexis:

Da woman are em0 and drageth their boyfriendz.

Posted by Giacomo @ 8:51 PM

I will be to the point Marc. Titanic was one of those films that had something for everyone. Cameron's mixing of romance with real life disaster is still impressive and occasionally brilliant. People saw it for the same reason anyone would see a picture on 9/11. It was a tragedy that still touches people to this day. That and natural curiosity to look into the past, to try to feel what those people were going through.

Personally, Titanic captivated me for its artistry and attention to detail, from costumes to set pieces. Not to mention the sinking of the ship was amazing. People who saw it described it as being spectacular, which, IMO, it was and is. It was enough for me to endure over three times the two hours of badly scripted melodrama that came before it. Females see that melodrama as something staggering, a love story unique in its own way because of how the two people were torn apart. History buffs saw it for its historical aspect.

However, times and fashion have changed in the last 10 years. Titanic became so popular that many people think its "cool" to tear it to pieces.

Posted by dark lord @ 6:18 PM

James is rite - EMO to the max ++i.e watching the movie at the cinemas over and over.

There are many ways to make money in the stock market but one of the most recognised and widely followed is the 'focussed' and 'value' style championed by the world's second richest man - Warren Buffet.

Buffet is famous for his long term buy and hold philosophy. He views tax as the single biggest factor eroding stock market wealth, which is why he doesn't care for short term trading, given the heavy transaction costs and capital gains involved.

This long term approach complements Buffets value philosophy, which sees him ensure that the underlying value of a business is consistent with the price he pays. Gathering an appreciation for a company's value is not an easy task, which is why Buffet advocates the 'focused' approach to investing. A focussed portfolio promotes quality over quantity, containing fewer stocks but ensuring that those included are the 'cream of the crop'. Buffet points out that investors with focussed portfolios have more time to monitor and evaluate their investments and ensure that they only buy into well valued and exceptionally run companies.

Buffet's long term and focussed methodology increases the importance of each investment decision, and he suggests that buying shares should be viewed in terms of buying the company behind the shares. Here at wise-owl.com, we reiterate that view. If you wouldn't buy the whole company, you shouldn't be buying shares in it.

The buy and hold strategy is often viewed as one of the more boring ways to play the stock market. However Buffet argues that it is the most effective to generate wealth, driven by the compounding effects from years of share price appreciation and the relative absence of erosive factors such as brokerage costs and capital gains taxes.

There is always an abundance of investment ideas floating out there in the media and on the streets, but the average investor may not be aware that a lot of these 'ideas' originate from brokers whose major incentive is to increase trading and thus generate more commissions at the expense of the investor. One of the more difficult tasks facing the average investor is negotiating through this market noise and finding those companies that are the real wealth builders.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

We have storyboard artists from Superman Returns and Happy Feet, and more!!

Preregistration is on now, and its $9 only! so cheap!

So contact Paul about it, and he'll somehow get the appropriate details from you for it.

Tell your friends, spread the word!

Posted by Ice Kachang @ 11:03 PM

Oh noes, Surface is a really bad idea, Hash...

Wait, on second thoughts, its perfect for you.

Entourage is not stopping. It's continuing from the 17th June. Ari is the best! If I were to describe him, he would be like a real life Eric Cartman but suave.

No better still: he's like a grown up and matured Stifler

Posted by butters @ 7:38 PM

No Darren! You must watch Ocean's 13! You require as many lessons as possible in sauve-ness before the lolcode can be beaten out of you! BE A MAN! Learn valuable life skills - like how to cheat the casino!

on other news - USA TV is high and dry for the June/July break, so does anyone have any of the following tv series that I could borrow/steal/copy:SurfaceJohn DoeKyle XYBirds of Prey

Posted by Hash @ 6:22 PM

I have a new programming language to add to my repertoire, although it is one possessed by the majority of gamers..

Also, about Oceans 13, I will have to pass on that, it doesn't really interest me. The trailers for it are just a bunch of guys sitting down. (some while wearing sunnies) It was probably done to create suspense as to what they will do, but it didn't work on me. So, you guys have fun.

Friday, June 08, 2007

Darren, they have left out the most important childhoods game ever! WHERE IS TEKKEN and STARCRAFT?!!!! Pffft...WoW is in there?!

Posted by Hoey the Fish @ 1:10 AM

Why get a blowup doll when you can buy a fully programmable Actroid will do. You could set her to literally 'blow up'..

Hope you have a great trip there Benny!

Ok, is anyone interested in going to watch this? Famous video game themes as played by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, with giant movie screen accompaniments.. $74 a ticket ($79 for non-students) on the 21st of June..

Don't all put your hands up at once now..

Posted by Ice Kachang @ 12:01 AM

Thursday, June 07, 2007

pfft Marc. When did I ever say I want a blow up doll?? Jap chiks are blown up dolls!!

Posted by Hoey the Fish @ 11:50 PM

Just had a look at the upgraded MSN spaces today and it looks awfully familiar. Looks like they are taking everything good from facebook.

Chalk up another pathetic ripoff.

Posted by butters @ 9:50 PM

Sweet Benny, great to hear you're having an incredible time travelling. Just fantastic.

Here's my travel tip: Don't die.

Otherwise, have fun!

Posted by IONize @ 7:56 PM

Hey its not me, its Eric!

Posted by butters @ 7:47 PM

Bongo fast on the uptake XD

Posted by Hash @ 6:19 PM

EWWWWW. God marc. YOu're sick.

Posted by Giacomo @ 6:08 PM

Eric wants the ones that blow up and don't talk.

Posted by butters @ 5:25 PM

traveling is indeed awesome...

go benny!

travel your heart out!

Posted by tucoti @ 3:54 PM

Also, don't pick knife-fights with Yakuza.

Or do, and videotape the results.

Posted by Megrim @ 2:17 PM

Benny, you don't need Japanese. Just speak a few words of English, the kawaii Jap chicks will flock to your side. Remember to import a few kawaii jap chiks over. I'll pay you back for the shipping...XD

Posted by Hoey the Fish @ 11:16 AM

Good work Benny.

Enjoy the Ramen.

Posted by Giacomo @ 11:11 AM

I`ve spent my first night in Japan and its insane

All is well, with my leg pretty good

I just walked for an hour around Osaka and it`s huge and Awesome.

I`m the main interpreter which is cool but crap since I don:t have a dictionary or anything beyond super super simple phrases and whatever I`ve learnt and remember

Travelling is god and fuck the mortgage.

At this rate I'm gonna spend all my money travelling until I becomed chained to the House of Matrimony.

Seriously insane.

On a side note Osaka has insane amounts of 24 hour porn video stores... very amusing when they don't allow you to bring in porn from overseas since its uncensored...

I'll soon find out if Osaka is Sin-City in Japan or it's every city.

Cheers all,Still alive

Posted by Katt @ 8:50 AM

Well - if you really need to eat a cereal - Be a MAN! - An IRON MAN!Eat some Iron Man food - Nutri Grain FTW!

Regardless of its origins, Kelloggs cereals advertisement have deviated from said origin - viz. Special K ads.

Darren :: Well done! Every1 loves Candy.

Posted by Hash @ 7:33 AM

I'm with you marc. Grenola for breakfast is very good.

Posted by Giacomo @ 4:53 AM

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Yoghurt and museli. I am trying to convert people to the virtues of eating this combo for breakfast. Tasty, low GI, high in fibre. Raw oats obliterate cholesterol too. I don't get hungry before lunch like I used to before and I got a lot more energy.

Posted by butters @ 9:12 PM

"i bet they eat corn flakes in heaven"-john

Posted by Giacomo @ 6:19 PM

Lol Marc. I just didn't think eating fast food for dinner is healthy. I used to eat a lot of junk food, but after my moon cake incident(accident?), I have decided to eat less fatty foods. I eat Maccas/KFC and stuff, but it's probably once a month at most. Actually, I think corn flakes is one of the more...healthy options for breakfast. If I remembered correctly, corn flakes is one of the few cereals that contains little to no sugar. Nutri grain, and all the rest of it has way too much sugar for a healthy diet.

Darren, at least you can have bread. I know a guy that's allergic to gluten...

Posted by Hoey the Fish @ 6:01 PM

Hash speaks true:

As it takes an Iron Chef to prepare fugu so does it take the Iron Stomach to eat it.

Corn flakes literally bring me sickness. I am no longer able to eat them without my digestive system severely rejecting them.. In fact, I can no longer stomach any corn-based foods well.

Now oats on the other hand.. and rice-based cereals are delicious and nutritious..

Posted by Ice Kachang @ 4:31 PM

Corn flakes was invented by an anti-sex, anti-taste mad man called Kellogg:

"The history of corn flakes goes back to the late 19th century, when a group of Seventh-day Adventists began to develop new food to meet the standards of their strict vegan diet. Members of the group experimented with a number of different grains, including wheat, oats, rice, barley, and of course, corn. In 1894, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, the superintendent of The Battle Creek Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan and an Adventist, used these recipes as part of a strict vegetarian regimen for his patients, which also included no alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine. The diet he imposed consisted entirely of bland foods, since he believed in sexual abstinence and following the precepts of Sylvester Graham, the inventor of graham crackers and graham bread and felt that spicy or sweet foods would increase passions, while cornflakes would have an anaphrodisiac property or lowered the sex drive."

Charlie will now explain why all efforts to suppress sexual needs, through altering food, or otherwise, are completely futile and counter to human development.

Posted by Giacomo @ 4:25 PM

The difference john, is that corn flakes brings happiness to certain people (those pictured) and misery to others (me, myself and my posterity). XD

Posted by Giacomo @ 4:15 PM

does it matter what people choose to eat if they're happy?

according to your postulation james, how does brunello in the courtyard differ from a coke after pizza or corn flakes at breakfast, if the temperament is conducive to happiness?

And the kind of free I'm talking about is contrasting to big houses and fast cars, not to water and grain.

Posted by Giacomo @ 10:10 AM

Well that Idea is wrong - nothing is truly free ... the effort and money spent on achieving those moments certainly were not.

Re :: The boy - Most likely he would not be able to read by that time. His days would be spent toiling to grow/harvest/process those grains, finding potable water and assisting the family in other means of survival. Most likely the Qu'ran would be read to him by a village elder / spiritual leader of some sort.

Posted by Hash @ 9:25 AM

You missed my point entirely hash. But I'm use to it by now. XD

My post was to illustrate the Epircurean idea that good things come easily and freely; that happiness is accessible to all, independent of material riches, so long as one is blessed with the right temperament.

As for a sublime pleasure for the Chad family:

Over a bowl of boiled grains seasoned with local herbs and a drizzle of oil, the boy reads the Koran as the sun sets into the Sahara

Posted by Giacomo @ 8:27 AM

In the name of Dionysus, may Benny have a good death.

Posted by Giacomo @ 8:22 AM

James :: Nice list >.Benny :: We will blood-sacrifice a hero in dota every nite in hopes of ur continued health. Though I suspect that you c/would eat the tetrodotoxin with no problems whatsoever. With all the random stuff u eat - ur body could probably properly metabolise cyanide with no ill effect ...

Posted by Hash @ 8:21 AM

I'm leaving in 1 hour for Japan.

Hopefully I'll bring back goodies for everyone.

All I ask is that I feature in your prayers so that I live after trying to eat this

Posted by Katt @ 7:08 AM

A list of sublime (and inexpensive) pleasures

Slipping into fresh sheets after an exhaustive shower; rolling in bed as you marvel at how great you smell.

Reading Bertrand Russell in the courtyard over a glass of Brunello and a piece of Sardo.

Watching a movie you know nothing about, less its poster, by yourself, and biting your nails as you sink into the movie and the empty seats of the fifth row.

Reading The Economist Premium Content online over lunch, after watching a brief and entertaining advertisement.

Simmering a Ragu in the kitchen on a summer's night, windows open and beer in hand.

Posted by Giacomo @ 6:42 AM

The American food boxes are as colorful as their taste is dull.

Marc sums it up best: dirty.

If I catch my son eating corn flakes, I'm going to belt him.

Posted by Giacomo @ 3:51 AM

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

If I remember correctly, dota never had a RESPECT! tag. Though maybe it should.

Posted by butters @ 10:01 PM

Those worthy of respect - Chad :: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp :: $1.23 a week - RESPECT!Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village :: $5.03 a week for a Family of 11 - Beyond Godlike!

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide :: $500 a week for a Family of 4 ... Gluttony is a sin rite?

Posted by Hash @ 9:15 PM

US$100?! Thats a fair bit. Those dirty american families are spending $250 for a family dude...

A man of expensive tastes. Does nVidia give you a free canteen like google? XD

Posted by butters @ 8:15 PM

Wow, that family from Bargteheide (Germany, Pic 15) spends $500 a week!! what the crap,

I'm surprised the California family only spends $159 a week. The american food doesn't seem so bad Marc? Potatoes James! :-D

Posted by IONize @ 6:07 PM

Alexis calls me demi-god for a reason.

Weekly grocery bill: $100Favourite recipe: Grilled scampi

Posted by Giacomo @ 5:05 PM

What can I say to that? American families eat dirty!

Did you catch the latina family? Check out how many coke bottles they had. Apparently no one drinks just water. I appreciate that tap water may not be potable, but you can also buy safe water to drink.

....considering how much they get paid and how employable they are. w00t

Posted by IONize @ 12:41 AM

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Listening to Beyond. How great it is.

Posted by Giacomo @ 4:07 PM

James :: Marc had a true reaction, you viewed everythng through an inpenetrable "I Love Apple" filter =P

To Those going to Japan in the following week - Have fun, rive rife to its furrest! If in doubt - remember the Wu-Tang slang "Konnichiwa bitches!"

Posted by Hash @ 9:27 AM

??

Steve said it simply and without convolution: Bill started the first software company.

Posted by Giacomo @ 3:52 AM

I only watched the first part and I can say that it was like watching The Office...except without the comedy.

I wanted to stab myself as they were trying to dodge answering straight on what they admired about each other. Neither did a good/diplomatic job. Their answers probably mirrored my contorted body reaction to the questions.